A mechanical carnival ride will be brought to the Mount Lyell Strahan Picnic for the first time in living memory. The Australia Day event will this year include a free teacup ride funded by TasPorts. It will be set up alongside a giant inflatable slide and a track for the usual program of traditional picnic activities, such as tug of war, sack races and horseshoe throwing. RELATED: Picnic committee secretary Leigh Styles said the event had been successful over the past 120 years because it offered “a program of events not found elsewhere”. “Our program offers a mix of events and games that someone wouldn't find at the Burnie Show for example,” he said. Many picnickers will kick off the day by travelling from Queenstown to Strahan on the West Coast Wilderness Railway with cheap tickets. Children can then win prizes by participating in a picnic activity or enjoy free fruit, sweets and ice cream. Mr Styles said seeing the “many wonderful people who attend our event” was the highlight of last year’s picnic. “Every year we see lots of returning faces, including many people who travel from away, and lots of new faces as well,” he said. “No one leaves the Mount Lyell Strahan Picnic without a smile on their face, usually a few prizes in tow as well.” Mr Styles said the day was kept “completely free of charge” due to the cash and in-kind donations from sponsors.